Fitment and pouch for connection to a probe and pump-out metering system

ABSTRACT

A package for enabling the dispensing (metering of) a flowable material by use of dispensing apparatus is disclosed. The package is a flexible bag or pouch having an internal cavity in which the flowable material is disposed and a fitment through which the flowable material is metered. The fitment is arranged to receive a probe of the dispensing apparatus and includes a first valve to prevent the flowable material from exiting through the fitment until the fitment is connected to the probe. The probe includes a second valve which opens when the probe is connected to the fitment and which closes when the probe is disconnected from the fitment. The disconnection of the probe from the fitment causes the first valve to close. The fitment also includes an anti-blocking member which prevents the walls of the package from collapsing to block the fitment when the flowable material is metered out.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This utility application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/477,824 filed on Apr. 21, 2011 entitled Fitment and Pouch for Connection to a Probe and Pump-Out Metering System. The entire disclosure of this provisional application is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to flexible packages and more particularly to flexible package systems for use with dispensing apparatus, e.g., beverage making machines, for dispensing flowable materials.

Various soft-drink making/dispensing apparatus today make use of what is referred to as “bag-in-box” packages for holding the drink-making ingredient, e.g., syrup. In particular, the bag-in-box package includes an outer protective container (the “box”) and an inner flexible material container (the “bag”). The outlet of the package is typically in the form of a fitment which mounted on a portion of the wall of the flexible package and is in fluid communication with its interior. The fitment is arranged to be pierced by a probe forming a portion of the beverage making apparatus. The probe is connected to a flexible pipe or conduit (hereinafter referred to as the “dispensing conduit”) which forms the input to the pumping mechanism of the dispensing apparatus. When the probe has pierced the fitment and the pumping mechanism operated, the contents of the package can be pumped or metered out (dispensed). This action causes the walls of the bag to collapse as the bag's contents are pumped out. In order to ensure that the collapsing walls of the bag don't block the fitment, it is a common practice to make use of some anti-blocking device as part of the fitment or as an adjunct to the fitment.

When all of the available contents of the package have been dispensed, the probe is disconnected from the fitment, so that a new package can then be introduced into the dispensing apparatus and its fitment connected to the probe and its associated dispensing conduit. Once that has been accomplished, the contents of the new package can be dispensed by the operation of the dispensing apparatus.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art after the probe has been disconnected from the package, any contents of the package that may still be resident in the package could seep or otherwise drip out of the package through the fitment. Moreover, some residual contents may still be resident in the dispensing conduit and, if so, could leak out the disconnected end (i.e., the end at which the probe is located). Obviously, such occurrences are problematic since they make keeping the dispensing apparatus sanitary more difficult (e.g., residual syrup on portions of the dispensing apparatus could serve as a source of bacterial contamination, if the apparatus is not thoroughly cleaned).

The subject invention is directed to addressing those problems, while also ensuring that the contents of the package cannot gain egress through the fitment until the probe of the dispensing conduit is connected to the fitment and ensuring that the contents of the package can not gain egress through the fitment when the probe is disconnected from the fitment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of this invention there is provided a package for use with a probe and associated dispensing conduit arranged for connection to a dispensing apparatus, a soft-drink making machine, to dispense a flowable material, e.g., syrup, from the package. The package is in the form of a flexible bag or pouch having plural wall portions defining an internal cavity in which the flowable material is located and a fitment secured to at least one of the wall portions. The fitment is arranged to receive the probe and comprises a valve. The valve is arranged to preclude the flowable material in the bag or pouch from flowing into the fitment until the probe is operatively coupled to the fitment. The probe is arranged for connection to the fitment in an operative position, whereupon a portion of the probe cooperates with the valve of the fitment to open that valve and enable the flowable material in the bag or pouch to be metered out through the fitment. The probe includes a portion, e.g., a detent surface, arranged to be coupled to the valve of the fitment to close that valve when the probe is disconnected from the fitment, whereupon any flowable material within the bag or pouch is precluded from gaining egress through the fitment.

In accordance with another aspect of this invention the said probe comprises a second valve arranged to be opened when the probe is connected to the fitment in the operative position, whereupon the flowable material can be metered out of the bag or pouch through the open first and second valves. The second valve is arranged to automatically close to prevent any flowable material in the probe or its associated dispensing conduit from egress through the probe when the probe is disconnected from the fitment.

In accordance with another aspect of this invention the fitment may include at least one anti-blocking member preventing wall portions of the bag or pouch from collapsing to block the fitment when the flowable material in the bag or pouch is metered out.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of one exemplary fitment and probe constructed in accordance with aspect of this invention;

FIG. 2 is reduced top plan view of a flexible package, e.g., a bag or pouch, including the fitment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the fitment shown in FIGS. 1-3 and taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the fitment and probe shown in FIG. 1 prior to their connection with each other to dispense the contents of the flexible package (not shown in this figure) to which the fitment is mounted;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view, similar to FIG. 5, but showing the fitment and probe after they have been connected together in their operative position to enable the flowable material to flow out of the flexible package (not shown in this figure) through the fitment and probe into the communicating dispensing conduit (not shown);

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view, similar to FIG. 5 and, but showing the fitment and probe as the probe is being withdrawn (disconnected) from the fitment to prevent any further flowable material from entering into the fitment;

FIG. 8 is an end view of an alternative embodiment of a fitment constructed in accordance with this invention, that fitment includes anti-flow blocking features;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the fitment shown in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the various figures of the drawing wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, there is shown at 20 in FIG. 2 an exemplary embodiment of a package 20 having a fitment 24 constructed in accordance with one aspect of this invention. The package 20 is arranged for use with a dispensing apparatus (not shown), e.g., a soft-drink dispensing machine, to dispense a flowable material, e.g., syrup, therefrom. To that end, a dispensing conduit (not shown) is provided. The dispensing conduit includes a probe 26 constructed in accordance with another aspect of this invention. The probe 26 is arranged to be connected to the fitment 24 so that the flowable material, e.g., a beverage making syrup, within the package 20 can be metered out of the package by the dispensing apparatus. Thus, the opposite end of the dispensing conduit from the end bearing the probe 26 is arranged to be coupled to a pump or other metering device of the dispensing (metering) apparatus (not shown).

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the package 20 basically comprises a bag or pouch 22 formed of a sheet of any suitable flexible material, e.g., a plastic film of one or more plies or layers. The pouch 22 can be of any suitable construction. One particularly suitable exemplary construction is like that shown and claimed in my U.S. Pat. No. 7,246,721, which is assigned to the same assignee as this invention and whose disclosure is incorporated by reference herein. To that end, a sheet of flexible material is folded over itself to form a pair of confronting panels or walls 28A and 28B. Those panels are sealed, e.g., welded, along their edges by a pair of side seal lines 28C and a top seal line 28D. This arrangement forms a hollow interior cavity 30 (FIG. 3) in which the flowable material, e.g., beverage making syrup, is located.

The fitment 24 is fixedly secured, e.g., welded, between the top edges of the two walls 28A and 28B in the top seal line 28D to serve as the access point or port through which the contents of the package can be metered (dispensed). That action is accomplished by the introduction of the probe 26 into the fitment, as will be described later.

The fitment 24 is best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4 and basically comprises a generally boat-shaped base section 32, an inner tubular section 34 and an outer collar section 36. Those sections are made of any suitable material, e.g., a plastic, and are preferably formed as an integral unit by any suitable method, e.g., injection molding. The boat-shaped base basically comprises a pair of diametrically opposed outwardly projecting planar flanges 32A and a plurality of generally triangular, shaped-apart fins 32B projecting upward from the flanges 32. The top edges of the flanges serve as the points along which the walls of the pouch at the seal line 28A are affixed, e.g., welded. The inner tubular section includes a central passageway 38 having a longitudinal axis 40 extending the length of the section 32, the length of the boat shaped section 34 and the length of the outer collar section 36. The outer collar section 36 includes a pair of spaced apart circular flanges 42A and 42B which are arranged to receive a recess of a drawer (not shown) forming a portion of the dispensing apparatus. The sidewall of the fitment forming the section 34 includes plural spaced apart apertures 44 and a slightly inwardly projecting annular ridge or ledge 46 at the free end of that section, as best seen in FIG. 4. Another slightly inwardly projecting annular ridge or ledge 48 is located within the passageway 38 at the interface of the sections 32 and 24, just below the apertures 44. The annular ridges 46 and 48 form respective stops for a valve 50 that also constitutes a portion of the fitment 24.

The details of the valve 50 will be described later. Suffice it for now to state that the valve 50 (also to be identified as the “first valve”) is a slidable member which is located within the passageway 38 and is slidable along the longitudinal axis 40 between an open position shown in FIG. 6, and a closed position shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, and vice versa. When the valve 50 is in the closed position it is held in that position by the stop ridge 48, with a portion of the valve disposed over the apertures 44 in the fitment to block or close those apertures. This precludes the contents of the package from flowing into the fitment. When the valve is in the open position, open portions of the valve 50 in the form of windows (to be described later) are disposed opposite to the apertures 44, thereby opening those apertures. This enables the contents of the package to flow into the fitment's central passageway. The moving of the valve 50 from the closed to the opened position is accomplished by the introduction of the probe 26 into the fitment 24 until the probe is at an operative position with respect to the fitment.

The probe 26 is best seen in FIGS. 1 and 5-7. As can be seen it is in the form of an assembly comprising a tubular body 52, a spring-biased, ball valve 54 (also to be identified as the “second valve”), and a flanged connector 56. The tubular body is made of any suitable material, e.g., a plastic, and is preferably formed as an integral unit by any suitable method, e.g., injection molding. It has a first end in the form of a connector 58 and a central bore or passageway 60 extending through the entire length of the body. The portion of the central passageway extending through the connector 58 is of smaller inner diameter than the remaining portion of that passageway. The flanged connector 56 includes a cylindrical portion 62 which is fixedly secured within the opposite end of the central passageway 60 of the tubular body from the connector 58. A pair of generally planar flanges 64A and 64B extend outward from the cylindrical portion 62. A hollow connector 66 projects outward from the plane of the flange 64A. The connector 66 is arranged to be received within the open free end of a dispensing conduit of the dispensing apparatus and includes a central passageway 68 extending from the free end of the connector 66 through the entire length of the cylindrical portion 62. The flanged connector 56 is also made of any suitable material, e.g., a plastic, and is preferably formed as an integral unit by any suitable method, e.g., injection molding. The inner diameter of the passageway 68 in flanged connector is approximately the same size as the inner diameter of the passageway 60 extending through the connector 58. The interface of the portion of the passageway 60 through the body 52 and the portion of the passageway through the connector 58 forms a valve seat 70 (FIG. 5) for the valve 54.

The valve 54 is a spring-biased assembly comprising a ball 72 and a compression spring 74. The ball is located on the seat 70 and is held in place thereon by the compression spring 74. To that end, the spring 74 is interposed between the ball 72 and a recess 76 at the inner end of the cylindrical portion 62. When the valve 54 is in the closed position, i.e., the ball 72 on the valve seat 70, the passageway 60 through the probe is blocked off or closed. Accordingly, any flowable materials that may be located within the probe 26 or the dispensing conduit to which the probe is connected will be precluded from egress through the passageway 60 by the closed valve 54.

The second valve 54 is arranged to cooperate the first valve 50 to enable the contents of the package (e.g., the flowable material) to be pumped or otherwise metered out of the package through the fitment when the probe 26 is operatively connected to the fitment 24. In order to best understand that action a more detailed description of the valve 50 is in order. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4-7, the valve 50 is a cup-shaped member having an outer cylindrical sidewall 80 and a top wall 82. A post 84 projects downward from the inner surface of the top wall along the central longitudinal axis 40. The free end 86 of the post 84 is somewhat concave to engage and accommodate a portion of the surface of the ball 72 of the second valve 54. A plurality of spaced apart openings or windows 88 extends about the periphery of the sidewall 80 adjacent the free edge of that wall. The windows are approximately the same size as the apertures 44 in the sidewall of section 34 of the fitment and are spaced apart by approximately the same spacing as those apertures. The free edge of the sidewall 80 is in the form of an inwardly extending annual ridge 90. The ridge 90 is arranged to be received within an annular recess 92 extending about the outer periphery of the connector 58 of the probe to form a detent mechanism for connecting the fitment and the probe together when they are in the operative position (as well be described later). An annular recess 94 extends about the outer periphery of the sidewall 80 of the valve 50. The recess 94 is arranged to receive the stop 48 of the fitment.

Operation of the valve 50 will now be described with reference to FIG. 5-7. After the bag or pouch 22 is filled with the flowable contents the slidable valve 50 is in the closed position like shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The valve is held in that closed position by a detent arrangement. The arrangement comprises the frictional engagement between the stop ridge 48 of the fitment and the annular recess 94 of the valve, i.e., the stop ridge is located within the annular recess of the valve. When the valve 50 is in this position a solid portion of the sidewall 80 of the valve blocks the apertures 44 in the fitment 24. Accordingly, the flowable contents of the bag or pouch are precluded from entering through those apertures into the fitment.

When access to the flowable material is desired, the probe 26 is juxtaposed with respect to the fitment 24, like shown in FIG. 5, and the fitment and probe are moved relative to each other along the longitudinal axis 40. This action causes the ball 72 of the valve 54 to be engaged by the free end 86 of the post of the valve 50. Continued inward movement of the probe with respect to the fitment coupled with the bias provided by the spring 74 on ball 72 overcomes the frictional engagement between the ridged stop 48 and the annular recess 94, whereupon the valve 50 is carried rearwardly until its top surface 82 engages the ridged stop 46 of the fitment. At this point the probe is in the operative position with respect to the fitment and the windows 88 will be juxtaposed opposite the apertures 44, thereby opening those apertures. Thus, the flowable material within the bag or pouch can flow into the fitment 24 as shown by the broken lines in FIG. 6. In addition, the annular ridge 90 in the valve 50 will snap-fit into the annular recess 92 in the probe, thereby effectively connecting the probe to the slidable valve 50.

The length of the post 84 of the valve 50 is selected so that when the top wall of the valve 50 engages the ridged stop 46 of the fitment, as shown in FIG. 6, the spring 74 of the valve 54 will be compressed, thereby moving the ball 72 off of the valve seat 70. Accordingly the flowable materials entering into the fitment can now flow past the now-opened valve 54 and then through the central passageway in the probe and out through the passageway 68 in the connector 66. From there, the flowable materials can flow into the dispensing conduit (not shown) following the path represented by the broken lines in FIG. 6.

When it is desired to disconnect the probe from the fitment, to reclose the fitment and thereby prevent any further egress of the flowable material from the bag or pouch, the probe and fitment are pulled apart. Since the ridge 90 of the valve 50 is frictionally held within the annular recess 92 extending about the outer periphery of the connector 58 of the probe, the relative movement of the probe away from the fitment carries the slidable valve 50 down the fitment from the open position shown in FIG. 6 to the point where the ridged stop 48 of the fitment receives the annular recess 94 of the valve 50. This action precludes the valve from any further sliding movement and holds the valve in the closed position shown in FIG. 7, whereupon the portions of the sidewall 80 of the valve again block the apertures 44 of the fitment and the ball 72 of the valve 54 again is in sealing engagement with the valve seat 70.

Continued retraction of the probe 26 with respect to the fitment 24 overcomes the frictional engagement of the detent formed between the ridge 90 of the valve 50 and the annular recess 92 of the probe, whereupon the probe becomes disconnected from the fitment, like shown in FIG. 5, leaving the valve 50 of the fitment in the closed position and leaving the valve 54 of the probe in the closed position. Thus, any flowable material within the package is prevented from egress through the fitment. Moreover, any flowable material in probe or dispensing conduit is prevented from egress through the probe when the probe is disconnected from the fitment since the ball 72 will be automatically moved back into sealing engagement with the valve seat 70 by the bias of the spring 74.

As mentioned above, in accordance with one preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, the fitment 24 optionally includes anti-blocking features to ensure that the entire flowable contents of the package can be pumped out of the package, notwithstanding the collapse of the walls of the package as the contents are pumped out. One exemplary embodiment of such a fitment is shown in FIGS. 8-10. To that end, as can be seen four elongated fingers 100 project rearwardly from the inner or rear end of the tubular section of the fitment so that they are is located within the cavity 30 in the bag or pouch holding the product to be dispensed. Each finger 100 is an elongated member of any suitable, e.g., cruciform, shape in cross-section as shown in FIG. 10.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 9 respective elongated linear ridges 102 project upward from the outer surface of section 34 contiguous with each of apertures 44 in the fitment. Each ridge 102 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis 40.

As should be appreciated by those skilled in the art, as the flowable contents of the bag or pouch 20 is metered out the walls 28A and 28B will collapse towards each other. The extending fingers 100 and the extending ridges 102 will prevent any portions of those walls of the bag from collapsing adjacent the fitment to the point where the collapsed walls block or otherwise impede the free flow of the flowable material into the apertures of the fitment when the valves 50 and 54 are in their open condition.

The use of the package to dispense its contents is as follows the package 20 is placed within a drawer (not shown) of the dispensing apparatus, with the collar portion of the fitment 24 being received within a recess in the drawer to hold the package in place. The drawer with the package 20 therein is then moved to bring a probe 24 of the dispensing apparatus into the interior of the fitment, whereupon the valves 50 and 54 open as described above. The pump mechanism of the dispensing apparatus can then be operated to meter out a desired amount of the flowable material.

Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge, adopt the same for use under various conditions of service. 

1. A package for use with a probe and associated dispensing conduit arranged for connection to a dispensing apparatus to dispense a flowable material from said package, said package comprising a flexible bag or pouch having plural wall portions defining an internal cavity in which the flowable material is located and a fitment secured to at least one of said wall portions, said fitment being arranged to receive the probe, said fitment comprising a valve which is arranged to preclude the flowable material in the bag or pouch from flowing into said fitment until the probe is operatively coupled to said fitment, the probe being arranged for connection to said fitment in an operative position, whereupon a portion of the probe cooperates with said valve of said fitment to open said valve and enable the flowable material in said bag or pouch to be metered out through said fitment, the probe including a portion arranged to be coupled to said valve to close said valve when the probe is disconnected from said fitment, whereupon any flowable material within said bag or pouch is precluded from gaining egress through said fitment.
 2. The package of claim 1 wherein said valve of said fitment comprises a movable member and wherein said fitment includes at least one aperture in communication with said internal cavity, said movable member comprising a portion blocking said at least one aperture when said valve is in the closed position and unblocking said at least one aperture when said valve is in said open position.
 3. The package of claim 2 wherein said movable valve member is slidable between said open and closed positions and vice versa.
 4. The package of claim 3 wherein said movable valve member includes a first surface arranged to be engaged by a cooperating surface of said probe to form a detent.
 5. The package of claim 3 wherein said slidable valve member is a generally cup-shaped member having a sidewall including at least one window therein, and wherein said fitment includes a body having a passageway including a longitudinal axis, said at least one aperture of said fitment being in communication with said passageway, said cup-shaped member being disposed within said passageway and being reciprocably slidable along said longitudinal axis from a closed position to an open position and vice versa, said sidewall of said slidable valve member blocking said at least one aperture when said slidable valve member is in said closed position, said at least one window of said slidable valve member unblocking said at least one aperture when said slidable valve member is in said open position.
 6. The package of claim 1 wherein said fitment comprises at least one anti-blocking member preventing wall portions of said package from collapsing to block said fitment when the flowable material in said bag or pouch is metered out.
 7. The package of claim 6 wherein said at least one anti-blocking member comprises an elongated finger.
 8. The package of claim 5 wherein said fitment comprises at least one anti-blocking member preventing wall portions of said package from collapsing to block said fitment when the flowable material in said bag or pouch is metered out.
 9. The package of claim 8 wherein said at least one anti-blocking member comprises an elongated finger.
 10. The package of claim 6 wherein said at least one anti-blocking member comprises a ridge.
 11. The package of claim 8 wherein said at least one anti-blocking member comprises a ridge.
 12. In combination a package for holding a flowable material and a probe for use a dispensing conduit arranged for connection to a dispensing apparatus to dispense a flowable material from said package, said package comprising a flexible bag or pouch having plural wall portions defining an internal cavity in which the flowable material is located and a fitment secured to at least one of said wall portions, said fitment being arranged to receive said probe, said fitment comprising a first valve which is arranged to preclude the flowable material in the bag or pouch from flowing into said fitment, said first valve being arranged to be opened when said probe is connected to said fitment in said operative position, whereupon a portion of said probe cooperates with said first valve to open said first valve and enable the flowable material in said bag or pouch to be metered out through said opened first valve, said probe also comprising a portion arranged to be coupled to said first valve to close said first valve when the probe is disconnected from said fitment, whereupon any flowable material within said bag or pouch is precluded from gaining egress through said fitment.
 13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said probe comprises a second valve arranged to be opened when said probe is connected to said fitment in said operative position, whereupon the flowable material can be metered out of said bag or pouch through said open first and second valves.
 14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said second valve is arranged to automatically close to prevent any flowable material in said probe or its associated dispensing conduit from egress through said probe when said probe is disconnected from said fitment.
 15. The combination of claim 12 wherein said first valve comprises a movable member and wherein said fitment includes at least one aperture in communication with said internal cavity, said movable member comprising a portion blocking said at least one aperture when said first valve is in the closed position and unblocking said at least one aperture when said first valve is in said open position.
 16. The combination of claim 15 wherein first valve is slidable between an open and closed position.
 17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said first valve includes a first surface arranged to be engaged by a cooperating surface of said probe to form a detent.
 18. The combination of claim 16 wherein said first valve comprises a projection, and wherein said second valve comprises a spring-biased member and a valve seat and wherein said spring-biased member is normally biased into engagement with said valve seat to normally close said second valve, said spring-biased member being arranged to be engaged by said projection of said first valve when said probe is operatively connected to said fitment, whereupon said spring-biased member is moved off of said valve seat to open said second valve.
 19. The combination of claim 18 wherein said spring-biased member comprises a ball, and wherein said second valve comprises a spring normally biasing said ball into engagement with said valve seat.
 20. The combination of claim 18 wherein said first valve includes a first surface arranged to be engaged by a cooperating surface of said probe to form a detent.
 21. The combination of claim 12 wherein said fitment comprises an anti-blocking member preventing wall portions of said package from collapsing to block said fitment when the flowable material in said bag or pouch is metered out.
 22. The combination of claim 21 wherein said anti-blocking member comprises an elongated finger.
 23. The combination of claim 21 wherein said anti-blocking member comprises a ridge.
 24. The combination of claim 16 wherein said slidable valve member is a generally cup-shaped member having a sidewall including at least one window therein, and wherein said fitment includes a body having a passageway including a longitudinal axis, said at least one aperture of said fitment being in communication with said passageway, said cup-shaped member being disposed within said passageway and being reciprocably slidable along said longitudinal axis from a closed position to an open position and vice versa, said sidewall of said slidable valve member blocking said at least one aperture when said slidable valve member is in said closed position, said at least one window of said slidable valve member unblocking said at least one aperture when said slidable valve member is in said open position.
 25. The combination of claim 24 wherein said spring-biased member comprises a ball, and wherein said second valve comprises a spring normally biasing said ball into engagement with said valve seat. 